Disabled access at heart of show Burnt Out In Biscuit Land

Burnt Out In Biscuit Land

By Dan Thompson

With nearly a quarter of Isle of Thanet residents stating that a health condition or disability limits their day-to-day activities, local arts organisation Looping The Loop has pledged to put disabled access at the heart of their work. And new show by disabled-led arts organisation Touretteshero launches their campaign.

‘Burnt Out In Biscuit Land’ is a show that blends live performance, film and conversation. It includes performances by Jess Thom, Jess Mabel Jones, and Charmaine Wombwell. Jess Thom, co-director of the company, was diagnosed with Tourettes in her twenties. The word ‘biscuit’ is one of her most common vocal tic.

“I’m hoping that for some people, this will be an opportunity to think about issues they may not have considered before, and for others that it will be a chance to feel seen and understood,” says Thom.

‘Burnt Out In Biscuit Land’ will be presented alongside a new show by local drag artist Tivoli. ‘Stop Relying on that Body’ explores themes of chronic illness and medical trauma.

Alongside the two performances, East Kent Mencap will present a two minute film.

“We are thrilled to bring Touretteshero to Thanet with Tivoli alongside them,” says Looping the Loop artistic director Ellie Jones. “These performances offer a unique and inspiring perspective that challenges traditional notions of disability. But this is only the starting point. We’re putting access and inclusivity at the forefront of our thinking for our future projects.”

The two shows share a stage at Turner Contemporary Thursday 8th June and Friday 9th June.

All performances will be relaxed, captioned in English, and have audio description built in. The performance on the 8th June will be British Sign Language interpreted. Turner Contemporary is wheelchair accessible. All performances will be live-streamed, meaning audiences can buy a ticket to watch the performance online if they prefer.

For tickets and more info: https://www.loopingtheloopfestival.org.uk/burnt-out-in-biscuit-land.html